Indian television comes of age. Review on Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai

A lot of comedies are shown on television.In most cases they make you laugh at people's infirmities and frailties.They make you laugh at weaknesses and failures.Indeed that is how comedy has been for years.For these reasons and more 'Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai' is completely fresh in what it has to offer.Indeed, one would even think that its not a comedy at all but a serial about  conflict between different generations.

Thankfully, its not so.Its a show where the laughs are in the situations.The characters are eccentric, even caricature-like.But they seem real and believable.The setting is current and the whole idea is based on something that you can recognise.Its about the funny side of being rich, educated and well-heeled.Having loads of time and money and not knowing what to do with it.This serial could only have been made in these prosperous times where some percentage of the population is actually like the Sarabhais.

To the storyline.I haven't seen too many episodes.But I think the central character is Maya Sarabhai(Ratna Pathak Shah).She is this domineering rich lady whose husband is Indravadan Sarabhai(Satish Shah).Indravadan is a poet and a man of great talent.Yet, he must always submit to his wife's whims and fancies.His elder son Sahil Sarabhai(Sumit Raghavan) is a plastic surgeon.He is married to Monisha(Roopali Ganguli) who is from an ordinary background.

There is also Roshesh(Rajesh Kumar) who says 'Momma' and other things in what can only be described as a strange voice.Incidentally, Roshesh is the Sarabhais' younger son.The story moves forward as Maya Sarabhai tries to influence everyone else into following her dictates.This includes her street-smart bahu Monisha.So, you see at heart its still the archetypal saas-bahu saga.But its quite funny, very hilarious.